Automatic take-up reinforce for loom picker sticks



Patented Apr. 6, 1954 AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP REINFORCE FOR LOOM PICKER STICKS Carl Brynolf Lundstrom, Little Falls, N. 1 assignor to Lundstrom Laboratories, Inc., Hcrkimer, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 26, 1952, Serial No. 322,670

Claims.

This invention relates to picker-sticks for looms, and particularly to an improved reinforcing means for that end of the stick which engages the pivot pin on which the stick swings.

Because of desirable elasticity and low weight the art demands wooden picker sticks. Strong, elastic woods such as hickory are preferred. The large number of looms now in use requires adherence to the crude simplicity of boring the butt of the stick to form a bearing which fits the pivot pin. The stick is retained on the pin by a Washer and cotter pin. A tendency of the sticks to split at the butt has been resisted by inserting transverse rivets, but shrinkage and vibration render this a temporary expedient, at best, because the rivets work loose in a short time.

Sticks manufactured under the Lundstrom Patent No. 2,470,506, issued May 1'7, 1949, have overcome most of the difliculties inherent in the use of wooden picker sticks, but the patent has no bearing on the splitting problem. Indeed, the availability of the patented stick which combines increased localized strength with desirable elasticity and lightness, is creating new problems by favoring the use of higher loom speeds, so that unit pressures in the bearing pin hole are being increased.

The present invention offers a reinforcing cuff so contrived that under vibration and shock it inherently develops a contracting or compressing tendency. Thus, the device maintains during use an active tendency to restrain the forces which, if not resisted, often cause splitting. The use of the invention virtually eliminates splitting at the butt in all types of wooden picker sticks. It is peculiarly desirable with applicants patented specially densified picker sticks because the densification and the reinforcing cuff, when used conjointly, afford opportunity for a marked increase in loom speed.

Preferred forms of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the lower portion of a picker stick with the cuff in place. In this view a portion of the front plate is broken away to expose one of the wedges to View.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the lower portion of a picker stick with the reinforcing cuff in place, the resulting assembly being mounted on a pivot pin of conventional form.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing a modified form of cuff, mounted with wedges on a picker stick.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation.

The cuff, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, comprises two plates it each of sheet steel about 0.05 inch in thickness, generally rectangular in form, one of these plates 6 being provided with a circular hole 5 Which receives the pivot pin bushing 8. This pivot pin bushing 8 is provided with projecting portions 9 which engage shoulder portions ll of the hole 12 in the opposite plate 5. The bushing 8 encircles the pivot pin 53 (see Fig. 2). The plates are rigidly spaced and connected in parallel relation by two filler pieces M and I5. These filler pieces are retained in position by means of rivets it which pass through the plates 5 and through the filler pieces. The purpose of this construction is to secure a light and absolutely rigid construction which is unlikely to be loosened by shock or vibration.

The horizontal spacing of the filler pieces Id and 15, as viewed in Fig. 1, at the upper end of the cufi is approximately inch greater than it is at the lower end. This spacing corresponds to the aggregate taper of the Wedges ll. Each of these wedges ll tapers longitudinally about 3% inch in 5 inches. These are typical dimensions given by way of example, and are based on the assumption that the embraced end of the stick [8 is not tapered. As a general rule the taper of the wedges should be the least that will, with a practicable longitudinal range of shift of the wedges, take up such wear or compression of the stick as occurs in the predictable useful life of the stick.

In any case the cuff and wedges are so designed that those faces of Wedges I? which engage the edge faces of stick It bear fairly on said faces and it is desirable that this contact extend throughout the length of the wedges, though contact in areas opposite the pin hole i t is obviously the most important.

In Fig. 2 a portion of the loom frame appears at 2!. The pin l3 with integral collar 22 is fixed to the frame member 2| by a threaded stem 23 and nut 24. A washer 25 and cotter pin 25 retain the stick and cuff on the pin.

In mounting the picker stick, the cuff is slipped over the end of the stick; the holes I and it are alined and the bushing 3 is inserted. This assembly is then mounted on the pin it. The washer and collar are placed and finally the wedges H are inserted thick end up and forced to snug engaging position. Since they have an inherent tendency, under shock and vibration, to move downward and take up slack, it is good practice simply to insert them until they bear fairly and are snug, and then let them work to their own positions after the loom is started up. The tightening tendency is adequate and probably is due in part to the weight of the wedges. As soon as the stick and cuff start to work even slightly, the wedges move down and take up the slack. The effect appears to be caused in part by such working. It will be apparent that this tendency of the wedges to move downward could be augmented by any means which would exert a downward force on the wedges.

As shown in Fig. 6 this additional downward force might be exerted by a spring 20 reacting between the wedge l1 and the cuff 21. It will be apparent that a weight attached to the wedge might also be used. Equivalent means will suggest themselves to others skilled in the art, and the invention is not limited to the specific means which are used to produce this additional force or to its use, except as may be stated in the claims.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the bushing 8 is omitted and the plates are provided with circular holes I which are dimensioned to receive the pivot pin l3. While the modification shown in Fig. 3 is structurally somewhat more desirable than that shown in Fig. 4, the latter will function satisfactorily.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, a unitary taper sleeve 27 is shown. This is functionally equivalent to the cuff made up of plates 6 and filler pieces 14 and i5. At the present time the dies necessary to form parts such as 27 on a production basis involve expense disproportionate to the production volume, but the embodiment shown in Fig. is lighter, stronger and more compact and potentially less expensive.

In both embodiments of the invention the cuff reinforces the ends of the pin bearing in the picker stick. An important aspect of the comcept is thus the fact that the cuff or taper-sleeve does not shift relativel to the stick. Their relative positions are fixed by the bushing 8. Consequently, two wedges are necessary to assure even and complete confinement of the edge faces of the stick. To use only one wedge, it would be necessary for the cuff to be free to move laterally relatively to the stick a wedging take-up occurred. This would make it impossible to use a registering hole 1, the advantage of which is obvious. The advantage of the illustrated embodiments over simplified approximations, which will readily suggest themselves, is thus apparent.

In accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, applicant has disclosed the inventive principle and has described in detail the best embodiments known to him, but these should be taken as illustrative, and not limiting.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's application Serial No. 190,736, filed Oct. 18, 1950, now abandoned.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a. picker stick having a pivot-pin hole; a cuff embracing said stick in the region of said hole and having wedge-sustaining surfaces inclined to the longitudinal axis of the cuff, and having holes which register with the pin hole and of a diameter to receive the p and correspondingly tapered wedging means supported by said wedge-sustaining surfaces and adapted to develop confining pressure in the edge surfaces of the stick.

2. The combination of a picker stick having a pivot-pin hole; a cuff embracing said stick in the region of said hole and having longitudinally convergent wedge-sustaining surfaces, and holes which register with the pin hole and are of a diameter to fit the pin; and two elongated correspondingly tapered wedges, each sustained by the cuff and each engaging a corresponding one of the opposite edge surfaces of the stick, the weight of said wedges serving to urge said wedges .in a direction to develop confining pressure on the stick.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which the cuff is constructed as a unitary sleeve generally rectangular in cross-section and having two parallel walls which engage opposite faces of the stick and two converging walls which support the wedges.

4. The combination of a picker stick having a pivot-pin hole; a cuff embracing said stick in the region of said hole and having longitudinally convergent wedge-sustaining surfaces; and parallel longitudinal surfaces having holes therein which register with said pin hole; a bushing disposed in said holes and having an inner diameter to fit the pin; means whereby said bushing is held against rotation relative to said stick and said cuff; and two elongated correspondingly tapered wedges, each sustained by said cuff and each engaging a corresponding one of the opposite edge surfaces of the stick, the weight of said wedges serving to urge said wedges in the direction to develop confining pressure on the stick.

5. The combination of a picker stick having a pivot-pin hole; a cuff embracing said stick in the region of said hole and having longitudinally convergent wedge-sustaining urfaces, and holes which register with the pin hole and are of a diameter to fit the pin; two elongated correspondingly tapered wedges, each sustained by the cuff and each engaging a corresponding one of the opposite edge surfaces of the stick; and means continuously effective to urge said wedge in a direction to develop confining pressure on the stick.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,971 Taft Nov. 10, 1885 1,570,796 Tatem Jan. 26, 1926 2,553,153 Towns May 15, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,518 Great Britain of 1893 

